Motorway lights being turned off - impact on safety?

usignuolo

I used to have a job which involved driving up and down from SW London to Manchester regularly. The return journey was almost always at night and I always came back via the M1 as soon as I could get onto it, because it was lit and I felt much safer that way, particularly in bad weather.

Couple of months ago I found myself driving down the M1 past Luton on a bad rainy night and all the lights were off for a long stretch. Same thing again yesterday on the M4 in Berkshire.

Apparently this is because the Highways Agency has a target to reduce light pollution. (Why does my heart always sink when I hear of Quango Bosses having targets and why do I assume it is linked to their salaries? Just cynical I suppose.)

I can see there are good reasons to turn off the mway lights - saves money, reduces light pollution etc but I used to drive up and down to Manchester every week for 4 years and knowing the lights were on the M1 (or indeed M4) as I approached London made the journey much less stressful and I feel safer for me. It's not so bad in good weather but in bad weather it made a lot of difference.

What does anyone else think?

Funky_Bold_Ribena

I hate motorway driving with no lighting. Hate it hate it hate it. It's so dangerous...one time I was on the M5 north from the M4 to the midlands and a deer from nowhere came out and smacked the side of the car. It was pitch black and at least if there had been lights there would be a chance of seeing it sooner. Horrible experience. Hate it.

TrickyWicky

Quite a few stretches of the local motorway near me are unlit and it's never really worried me at all. As long as the headlights and tail lights work thats all that worries me.

Breaking down however in an unlit section of motorway would definitely have me worried.

DUTR

usignuolo wrote: »

I used to have a job which involved driving up and down from SW London to Manchester regularly. The return journey was almost always at night and I always came back via the M1 as soon as I could get onto it, because it was lit and I felt much safer that way, particularly in bad weather.

Couple of months ago I found myself driving down the M1 past Luton on a bad rainy night and all the lights were off for a long stretch. Same thing again yesterday on the M4 in Berkshire.

Apparently this is because the Highways Agency has a target to reduce light pollution. (Why does my heart always sink when I hear of Quango Bosses having targets and why do I assume it is linked to their salaries? Just cynical I suppose.)

I can see there are good reasons to turn off the mway lights - saves money, reduces light pollution etc but I used to drive up and down to Manchester every week for 4 years and knowing the lights were on the M1 (or indeed M4) as I approached London made the journey much less stressful and I feel safer for me. It's not so bad in good weather but in bad weather it made a lot of difference.

What does anyone else think?

Well you can't see this reply, but what I do, is switch the headlights on on my vehicle, (well actually I don't they come on automatically when the incident light is reduced ), regular drives from Manchester to London is a long journey, let the train take the strain as they say.

notanewuser

I much prefer driving in darkness. DD can't help but sleep for a start!

dacouch

usignuolo wrote: »

I used to drive up and down to Manchester every week for 4 years and knowing the lights were on the M1 (or indeed M4) as I approached London made the journey much less stressful and I feel safer for me.

Is this proof that it is actually grim up North?

smashingyour...

DUTR wrote: »

Well you can't see this reply, but what I do, is switch the headlights on on my vehicle, (well actually I don't they come on automatically when the incident light is reduced ), regular drives from Manchester to London is a long journey, let the train take the strain as they say.

Who were you in a previous life Jimmy Savile?

smashingyour...

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

I hate motorway driving with no lighting. Hate it hate it hate it. It's so dangerous...one time I was on the M5 north from the M4 to the midlands and a deer from nowhere came out and smacked the side of the car. It was pitch black and at least if there had been lights there would be a chance of seeing it sooner. Horrible experience. Hate it.

So what would you have done, swerved at 80?

Iceweasel

I frequently drive from Birmingham up the M6 to Carlisle and beyond to the land of far far away late at night or early in the morning.

My Southbound journey is always in daylight. I often find lights still on around 11 o'clock in the morning on various sections.

I'm happier heading North at night when I leave the lit motorway behind.

Vehicles coming up behind me are spotted in the mirrors well before they catch me up.

My headlights are also more effective in the pitch dark than they are in the half-light of an illuminated motorway.

I have no need of them and can find no benefit from them - except when it's foggy.

I'd support having extra lighting around Motorway Service Area buildings.

I'd also have spaces alongside the disabled bays reserved for woman drivers who I accept often feel vulnerable stopping alone late at night and having to walk 50 metres or more to the services entrance.

The autobahn services in Germany have such 'Women's Spaces'.

silverwhistle

I'm not sure what I feel about this; perhaps it's down to the weather conditions. I once hit a very large German Shepherd which came out of the dark from the fast lane. Didn't do my car any good and the poor dog came off even worse..

On the other hand I'm with Iceweasel in sometimes feeling a dark motorway is better for picking up other motorists when it's not too busy, and can be less tiring on the eyes.

smashingyour...

silverwhistle wrote: »

I'm not sure what I feel about this; perhaps it's down to the weather conditions. I once hit a very large German Shepherd which came out of the dark from the fast lane. Didn't do my car any good and the poor dog came off even worse..

On the other hand I'm with Iceweasel in sometimes feeling a dark motorway is better for picking up other motorists when it's not too busy, and can be less tiring on the eyes.

Fast lane?

Typical German but you can do 70 in them all.;)